Bates Numbering: how it works
To add Bates numbering, open the Bates Numbering tool, add your PDF, set a prefix and starting number, and download a copy with a sequential, zero-padded identifier stamped on every page. The stamping happens in your browser — the document is never uploaded.
How to use Bates Numbering
- Open the Bates Numbering tool and add your PDF.
- Set a prefix (e.g. ACME-), the start number, and the digit count.
- Choose where the stamp appears and click Add Bates numbers.
- Download the Bates-stamped PDF.
In your browser vs. uploading to a server
Built for legal, discovery, and records work where each page needs a unique, ordered identifier like ACME-000042. Unlike upload-based legal tools, PDFER stamps confidential case files entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bates numbering?
- Bates numbering is a legal convention that stamps a unique, sequential identifier — usually a prefix plus a zero-padded number — on every page of a document set so pages can be referenced unambiguously during discovery.
Can I set a custom prefix and starting number?
- Yes. Choose any prefix and suffix, the first number in the sequence, and how many digits to zero-pad to (e.g. 6 digits → 000042).
Are my files uploaded to a server?
- No. PDFER runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly and JavaScript. Your files are read into memory on your device, processed locally, and never sent to PDFER or any third party. Closing the tab or leaving the tool erases them from memory.
Is it free, and is there a file-size limit?
- Yes, it is free with no account, no watermarks, and no daily caps. Because processing happens on your own device, the only practical size limit is your device's available memory rather than a server upload quota.
PDFER is a privacy-first PDF toolkit built by Kiril Urbonas. Every tool runs entirely in your browser — see our security model and privacy policy.